Traditional-Webcast Class Delivery Format

Thinking About Taking a Class with a Traditional-Webcast Delivery Format?

This type of course has regular meetings just like a traditional face-to-face (or
hybrid) course. However, in a traditional-webcast format, the instructor will broadcast
their computer screen and voice in real-time over the Web. Students that want to participate
online can sign in from home during class and see what the professor is doing on the
computer and hear them. They can also ask questions and communicate with others students
via the system chat interface. Courses taught in the traditional-webcast format are
also recorded. This allows students that have missed a class or need to review a class
topic; to go back and re-play the class lecture/demonstration.

The image below shows what a Zoom virtual session looks like during class webcasts
and recordings. Note that recordings will include transcripts of the class that students
can use to navigate a large video recording. This is a still shot taken from a CIS
195 Web Development I course. There were three students participating from home and
they could view the teacher's computer on screen.

You need a recent version web browser (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, etc.) to access your
course. Many students recommend having a dual monitor setup so they can watch on one
screen while working on the other. This is nice, but not necessary.

How can I communicate with an instructor during a live class?

Each instructor may have slightly different methods for "talking" to students during
a live webcast. Ask about the procedure during the beginning of the term. Zoom has
a method for a student to "raise their hand", alerting the instructor to a question.
Often during class, the instructor may not be able to see the chat window during their
normal demonstration. The instructor will need to check the Zoom session regularly
or listen for the student's notification.

How can I take an in-class quiz if I'm not in class?

Each instructor may have a slightly different process for at-home students to take
an in-class quiz, so check with her/him early on to make sure you understand the process.
For many traditional-webcast format classes, the quiz is started at a certain time
using software that is available to students in class or at home. Then, the quiz must
be completed and submitted by some deadline either later that day or soon after.

What are some difficulties about participating in a traditional-webcast class from
home?

Participating in a class from home is more challenging, even when you can hear the
instructor and see what she/he is doing on the computer.

Students posing questions in the chat window might not get answered as quickly as
they would if they were participating in person. This delay might lead to missing
a critical step and feeling left behind.

Students that don't have a dual monitor setup can find it tough to keep up in class
because they need to frequently switch back and forth from the webcast to the software
they're working on. This wouldn't be a big deal in a pure lecture class, but many
CIS classes involve software demonstrations where the student is typing/coding as
the instructor is explaining or demonstrating a skill.

Students can't interact with other student in the face-to-face class. Students using
the webcast can easily chat with other webcast students, but those students are often
busy and might not be able to take the time to assist a classmate in need.

Overall, students that enjoy the webcast delivery the most tend to be very tech-savvy
and on track to earn an A or B in the course. Students that find the work very challenging
and are struggling for a C should attend in person more often and rely on the class
recordings as additional review.